Professor Garry Willgoose

Career Summary

Biography

My most important research contributions have been (1) the development of the SIBERIA landform evolution model and the computational techniques underpinning its high performance for my PhD in 1989, (2) the subsequent research insights on landscape optimality and equilibria arising from its physics and (3) applications of data assimilation methodologies to the estimation and prediction of hydrology and soil moisture in the field with remote sensing and field instrumentation. The development of SIBERIA is generally asserted to have reinvigorated the field of geomorphology. One finding from SIBERIA was a process explanation for the observed relationship between slope and catchment area for hillslopes and channels. This technique has become a standard tool for interpreting process in the field, and barely a month goes by without a new paper on the relationship. In recent years the research emphasis has shifted. Recent SIBERIA developments have been in geomorphic model testing and pioneering applications of landform evolution modelling in the mining and hazardous waste containment industries. In the waste containment field I have been a pioneer in using landform evolution models to assess the long-term safety of waste containment structures and SIBERIA is currently being used to assess mine tailings structures by consultants and research agencies around the world, and nuclear waste facilities in the USA, most notably at the Los Alamos National Lab. Software developed in the soil moisture data assimilation work has been incorporated into the NASA Land Data Assimilation System (LDAS) used for weather and climate forecasting at NASA.

Research ExpertiseMy focus is on understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of drivers of hydrology and erosion. This includes landforms, soils, vegetation, soil moisture, and fire. Founding work on the use of remote sensed soil moisture data in hydrology and climate forecast models by data assimilation. I am developer of the internationally renowned SIBERIA landscape evolution model. This model has been incorporated into our EAMS environmental assessment package for use in assessment of long-term stability of mine rehabilitation, tailing facilities, and hazardous and nuclear waste containment structures. It is used worldwide.

Teaching ExpertiseI have taught courses in both Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Geography. At university this teaching has been at both Undergraduate and Masters level. These courses include: Operations research Hydraulics Hydrology Erosion Soil Science Geomorphology Environmental Management Engineering Design Mine Rehabilitation and Waste Containment Design I have also been involved in a number of professional development courses related to environmental management in the mining, and the hazardous and nuclear waste containment industry.

Administrative ExpertiseDeputy director and co-founder of the Earth and Biosphere Institute (EBI) at the University of Leeds, UK. This centre (funded by the University and EU) pulled together researchers from Earth and Environmental Sciences, Geography and Ecosystems Dynamics to look at the terrestrial impact of climate change.

CollaborationsThe focus of my research is in computational environmental dynamics, using process based models as numerical laboratories to better understand spatial and temporal variability in environmental processes. There are four main initiatives: Hydrogeomorphology, Soil Pedogensesis, Soil Moisture, Eco-hydrology and Computing. Hydrogeomorphology: This program has been the original focus of my research and forms the core of many of my projects. The main emphasis has been the fundamental research program that has been aimed at understanding why landforms look the way they do. For instance, how do the runoff and erosion physics shape the landform and what can the landform shape (i.e. geomorphology) Tell us about the physics that shaped it. Is it possible to measure the runoff, erosion and paleoclimate simply by analysing the landforms and stratigraphy? The main tool for doing this work has been the development the SIBERIA landform evolution computer that simulates the runoff and erosion on a landform and can simulate the evolution of that landform and depositional structures on the basis of that predicted erosion. Soil Moisture: One of the major unknowns in flood hydrology is how wet a catchment is, or will be, before a rainfall event. Soil moisture varies dramatically in space and time and has in the past been difficult to measure. New developments in remote sensing from satellites and relatively inexpensive electronic measurement techniques promise to revolutionise flood prediction if we know how to use the data in our models. My work has concentrated on using the remote sensing and ground instrumentation to estimate catchment average soil moisture by combining soil moisture physics and statistical techniques based on Kalman filtering, and validation of these estimates using ground truth data sets. Soils Dynamics and Pedogenesis: In the complex distributed hydrology and erosion models discussed above it is generally assumed that the soil properties are the same everywhere. We know, however, that they are quite variable in space and strongly coupled with the spatial pattern of soil moisture. Yet there are no practical technologies to measure soil properties in sufficient detail. If we were able to model soil development, in the same way as SIBERIA can model landform evolution, then we could better understand how soils vary in space and develop simple models for soil spatial properties. We have had some significant success in predicting the spatial distribution of soil depth and spatial distribution of near surface soil grading. Current activities are further exploring spatial organization, pedogenesis, soil organic carbon dynamics and prediction of phosphorus limitation. Eco-hydrology: In hydrology vegetation effects are generally considered by using remote sensing data to determine species distribution and density, and then applying known species hydrology. We are beginning to understand that many important properties cannot be determined this way. For instance, rooting depth is known to impact on seasonal estimates of transpiration and cannot be estimated from remote sensing, yet it is a very important component of the land-atmosphere interaction in climate models. Our research group is currently focusing on modelling vegetation pattern development in arid areas. The ultimate aim is to develop a model that can predict changes in vegetation pattern and knock-on runoff capture so as to be able to assess the effect of climate change on runoff generation in our highly sensitive arid regions. Computing: Many of the projects above involve complex computer models that require supercomputer resources to run. One landform simulation can easily take days on a high end workstation. For some time I have used innovative computational techniques to solve these problems (e.g. PVM, MPI-2 and openMP).

Qualifications

PhD (Hydrology), Massachusetts Institute of Technology - USA

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), University of Newcastle

Bachelor of Science, University of Newcastle

Master of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology - USA

Keywords

climate change adaptation

erosion

geomorphology

hydrology

mining environmental impacts

operations research

remote sensing

Fields of Research

Code

Description

Percentage

040601

Geomorphology and Regolith and Landscape Evolution

40

090599

Civil Engineering not elsewhere classified

30

090799

Environmental Engineering not elsewhere classified

30

Professional Experience

UON Appointment

Title

Organisation / Department

Professor

University of NewcastleSchool of EngineeringAustralia

Academic appointment

Dates

Title

Organisation / Department

1/01/2013 -

Membership - NSW Gateway Science Panel for Mining and Coal Seam Gas

NSW Gateway Science Panel for Mining and Coal Seam GasAustralia

1/01/2008 -

Membership - OEH (NSW) Climate Change Adaptation Science Network

OEH (NSW) Climate Change Adaptation Science NetworkAustralia

1/01/2006 - 1/12/2010

Fellow - APF

ARC (Australian Research Council)

1/01/2004 - 31/12/2005

Editorial Board - Geomorphology Committee, European Geophysical Union

Geomorphology Committee, European Geophysical UnionAustralia

1/01/2003 - 1/10/2005

Professor of Computational Physical Geography

The University of LeedsSchool of GeographyUnited Kingdom

1/01/2000 - 31/12/2001

Editorial Board - Water Resources Research

Water Resources ResearchAustralia

1/01/2000 - 1/07/2000

Visiting Research Engineer

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering/ Faculty of EngineeringUnited States

1/01/1999 - 1/01/2003

Associate Professor

University of NewcastleSchool of EngineeringAustralia

1/01/1997 - 31/12/2000

Editorial Board - Advances in Water Resources

Advances in Water ResourcesAustralia

1/01/1997 - 1/07/1997

Visiting Scientist

National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research, ChristchurchHydrology GroupNew Zealand

1/01/1995 - 1/07/1995

Visting Research Associate

University of Lancaster, LancasterCentre for Research and Environmental StudiesUnited Kingdom

Awards

Honours

Research Award

Australian Professorial Fellowship (Full Time)Australian Research Council

1989

Australian Water Research Advisory Council FellowshipDepartment of Primary Industry

Invitations

Participant

Year

Title / Rationale

2010

Assessment of the Erosional Stability of Encapsulation Caps and Covers at the Millennial Timescale: Current Capabilities, Research Issues and Operational NeedsOrganisation: US Nuclear Regulatory Commision
Description:
Providing advice on the use of my SIBERIA software for the assessment of low level nuclear waste repositories

2003

Landform evolution models: The interface between climate, process and sedimentologyOrganisation: British Sedimentology Research Group Annual Meeting
Description:
Plenary on the potential role of landform evolution modelling to sedimentologists

2002

Sustainability of rehabilitated mined landformsOrganisation: Centre for Mining Rehabilitation, Bradenburg University
Description:
Plenary on the role of landform evolution modelling in the rehabilitation of abandoned mines

Prestigious works

Year Commenced

Year Finished

Prestigious Work

Role

2008

2009

National Water Resources and Hydrology Symposium, 2009 Engineers Australia

The impact of leaf area index (LAI) seasonality on three-year (2005-2007) daily soil moisture predictions was investigated for two different land surface models (IBIS and HYDRUS) ... [more]

The impact of leaf area index (LAI) seasonality on three-year (2005-2007) daily soil moisture predictions was investigated for two different land surface models (IBIS and HYDRUS) at the Stanley semi-arid grassland field site. Three daily LAI time series derived from different empirical NDVI-LAI relationships using the MODIS NDVI data were used in the analysis. Calibration results from both models consistently suggested that an average LAI over time, rather than a time varying daily LAI, was sufficient to reproduce daily soil moisture at our site. We did, however, find that the sensitivity of the impact of LAI time variability on soil moisture estimation was a function of soil parameters. The influence of LAI time variation on the soil moisture simulations is controlled by the sensitivity of modelled soil moisture to the average LAI values over that period, and soil parameters affected the sensitivity of the model to LAI. Those parameter sets that were most sensitive to the long-term mean LAI were also those that were the most sensitive to the time variability. In our case, model calibrations using a constant LAI adjusted the soil parameters to reduce the impact of LAI variability. Results also suggested that the LAI variability could be significant if the varying LAI approached a very low level (i.e. LAI.

This paper evaluates the Integrated BIosphere Simulator (IBIS) land surface model using daily soil moisture data over a 3-year period (2005-2007) at a semi-arid site in southeaste... [more]

This paper evaluates the Integrated BIosphere Simulator (IBIS) land surface model using daily soil moisture data over a 3-year period (2005-2007) at a semi-arid site in southeastern Australia, the Stanley catchment, using the Monte Carlo generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) approach. The model was satisfactorily calibrated for both the surface 30cm and full profile 90cm. However, full-profile calibration was not as good as that for the surface, which results from some deficiencies in the evapotranspiration component in IBIS. Relatively small differences in simulated soil moisture were associated with large discrepancies in the predictions of surface runoff, drainage and evapotranspiration. We conclude that while land surface schemes may be effective at simulating heat fluxes, they may be ineffective for prediction of hydrology unless the soil moisture is accurately estimated. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the soil moisture simulations were most sensitive to soil parameters, and the wilting point was the most identifiable parameter. Significant interactions existed between three soils parameters: porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity and Campbell 'b' exponent, so they could not be identified independent of each other. There were no significant differences in parameter sensitivity and interaction for different hydroclimatic years. Even though the data record contained a very dry year and another year with a very large rainfall event, this indicated that the soil model could be calibrated without the data needing to explore the extreme range of dry and wet conditions. IBIS was much less sensitive to vegetation parameters. The leaf area index (LAI) could affect the mean of daily soil moisture time series when LAI<1, while the variance of the soil moisture time series was sensitive to LAI>1. IBIS was insensitive to the Jackson rooting parameter, suggesting that the effect of the rooting depth distribution on predictions of hydrology was insignificant.

The intensity of tropical cyclones and severe storms is likely to increase due to climate change. Brisbane and the northeast coast of Queensland are regions where design wind spec... [more]

The intensity of tropical cyclones and severe storms is likely to increase due to climate change. Brisbane and the northeast coast of Queensland are regions where design wind specifications may be inadequate under either current or likely future climate conditions. An appropriate adaptation strategy may be one that increases wind classifications for new houses, which leads to a reduced vulnerability of new construction. The present paper will assess the damage risks, adaptation costs, and cost-effectiveness of these adaptation measures for residential construction in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, and South East Queensland, assuming time-dependent changes in the frequency and intensity of cyclonic and noncyclonic winds to 2100. Loss functions are also developed for direct and indirect losses. It was found that increasing design wind loads for new houses in Brisbane and South East Queensland will lead to a net benefit [net present value (NPV)] of up to $10.5 billion by 2100, assuming a discount rate of 4%, which includes approximately 95% of a direct benefit and 5% of an indirect benefit. The benefits are highest for Brisbane due to its large population and the high vulnerability of existing residential construction, and have a 90-100% likelihood of achieving a net benefit by 2100.

Willgoose GR, Hancock GR, 'Revisiting the hypsometric curve as an indicator of form and process in transport-limited catchment', Earth Surface Processes and Landform, The Journal of the British Geomorphological Research Group, Vol. 23 611-623 (1998) [C1]

The author has, during the last 5 years, developed a model for simulating sheet erosion and gully dynamics in river basins over long time scales. The computer model can simulate t... [more]

The author has, during the last 5 years, developed a model for simulating sheet erosion and gully dynamics in river basins over long time scales. The computer model can simulate the evolution of both the elevations and planar extent of catchments, and their river networks, over geologic time from initial conditions (perhaps a flat plain) to the catchment observed today. Accordingly it is now becoming possible to quantitatively connect geomorphologic features in catchments with the runoff and erosion processes that occur on them, reducing the need to indirectly infer process information from heterogeneous field data. For instance, it has been shown that concave up regions of a catchment are dominated by fluvial erosion processes while concave down regions are dominated by diffusive erosion processes (e.g. rainsplash, landslide and creep) and some sediment transport parameters can be estimated from the elevation data alone. This paper describes a field application of this model in the Pokolbin region of the Hunter Valley where the model was calibrated to a small catchment of 50 Ha on Middle Creek. Important features of erosion that appear in the modelling will be highlighted; for instance, the apparent importance of source limitation in the sediment transport processes. The paucity of data for the calibration of the physically based erosion model and the data requirements for model verification will be discussed.

Increasing rates of surface pollution have negative influences on groundwater resources and this has caused concerns among hydrogeologists. Focusing on this issue, this paper pres... [more]

Increasing rates of surface pollution have negative influences on groundwater resources and this has caused concerns among hydrogeologists. Focusing on this issue, this paper presents an alluvial groundwater vulnerability map based on the DRASTIC model at potential coal seam gas sites in the Broke area, which is located in the Hunter Valley, in the northern part of the Sydney basin, in NSW, Australia. This method was developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for assessing and analysing groundwater vulnerability. The method has been named for the seven parameters that are considered in the method (depth to water table, recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity) to indicate the areas with the highest potential for groundwater pollution. A geographical information system (GIS) has been used to create and analyse the groundwater vulnerability maps. First the seven raster maps have been generated separately based on geology, hydrology and hydrogeologic data. After that, each parameter is rated on a scale from one to 10. A rating of 10 indicates a high pollution potential of the parameter for the study area. Then a weight is assigned to each parameter to express its relative importance. Finally all of the seven raster layers have been overlaid to show the area with the highest vulnerability.

Moreno De Las Heras M, Saco PM, Willgoose GR, 'Linking surface hydrological connectivity patterns with landscape functionality in semiarid Australian ecosystems', Proceedings of the 34th World Congress of the International Association for Hydro- Environment Research and Engineering: 33rd Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium and 10th Conference on Hydraulics, Brisbane, QLD (2011) [E1]

Chen M, Willgoose GR, Saco PM, 'Estimating temporal soil moisture dynamics using the HYDRUS-1D and IBIS models', Proceedings of the 34th World Congress of the International Association for Hydro- Environment Research and Engineering: 33rd Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium and 10th Conference on Hydraulics, Brisbane, QLD (2011) [E1]

Willgoose GR, Perra HJ, 'A Model Based on Geomorphology for Runoff Generation and its Implications for the Scale Invariance and Similtude of Landform and Runoff Response', 1998 Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California (1998) [E3]

Hughes CE, Binning PJ, Willgoose GR, 'An Experimental Investigation of Water Balance and Porewater Movement in the Intertidal Zone of an Estuarine Wetland', Proceedings of the Second International Environmental Management, Wollongong, Australia (1998) [E1]

Development of Modelling Tools for Eco-Geomorphological PredictionCivil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built EnvironmentCo-Supervisor

2014

Ecohydrologic Response of Drylands to Climate Variability and ChangeCivil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built EnvironmentCo-Supervisor

2014

Ecohydrologic Modelling of Semiarid Areas: Accounting for Interactions Between Runoff, Vegetation and Lanforms for Adaptive ManagementCivil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built EnvironmentCo-Supervisor

2014

Assessing the Impacts of East Coast Laws on Urban Water SecurityEnvironmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built EnvironmentCo-Supervisor

2013

mARM Pedogenesis Model: Application as a Tool in Precision Agriculture in Eastern New South WalesEnvironmental Studies, Faculty of Science and Information TechnologyCo-Supervisor

Past Supervision

Year

Research Title / Program / Supervisor Type

2014

Stability of Organic Carbon in Soil Particle-Size Fractions at Different Depths: Insight on C Dynamics in Two Australian SoilsEnvironmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built EnvironmentPrincipal Supervisor

2013

On the Predictability of Hydrology Using Land Surface Models and Field Soil Moisture DataEnvironmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built EnvironmentPrincipal Supervisor